Dictionary-stand



(N0 Model.) I E. D. SWAIN.

- DICTIONARY STAND.

No. 297,541. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

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NlTED STATES L ATENT QFFICE.

EDGAR D. SWAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DICTIONARY-STAN D.

SPECIPIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,541, dated April 22, 1884-.

Application filed September 10, 1833. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR D. SWAIN, of the city of Chicago, county of Gook,and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improve ments in Dictionary or Book Stands, of which the following is a specification- My invention will be hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an end elevation of a dictionary-stand embracing improvements in its construction, the book beingopen upon the top of the stand in position for use; Fig. 2, a like view of the same, the book being closed as when not in use; and Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same, the book being closed.

A frame, which may be made of cast metal, and having four feet, E, supports the four spring-rods B, a pair of which on each side are connected together below by the device d, or any other that is suitable, and above by the cross-rods c, which will serve as handles when the stand is to be removed from place to place. The top end of each rod B is provided with a hinged sleeve, O, which turns on the pivotbolt a. The two lids A are hinged upon two rods, 6, to a back, j, which may be made of sheet metal or any other suitable material having sufficient flexibility, and the lids A, provided 011 the outside with handles b,by which the lids and the volume may be raised up into the position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1 before spreading them out into the position shown by the solid lines in that figure. The connection between the hinged sleeve upon the top ends of the spring-bars B is made by the four rods a, which are passed through the hinged sleeve 0, and attached to the lids A at each end, and work freely endwise through the hinged sleeves. The tension of the springrods B may easily be regulated to hold a volume more or less thick, and their connection with-the back f is such that they will not scratch or wear the outside of the covers or lids of the book, and when they are spread, as shown in Fig. 1, the two lids and the back together form a level table, upon which the book to be consulted lies open.

To close the lids and inclose the volume when done with, the tops of the lids A are simply drawn inwardly, and then the weight of the volume forces the rods a down through the hinged sleeves O, which turn upon their pivots a, and the stand and book assume the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The insides of the lids may be lined with cloth or soft leather, and the spring-rods B and other parts of metal may be nickel-plated or otherwise ornamented, as may be desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters'Patent, is

The combination of the spring-rods B and the sleeves G, pivoted to them and to the lids A, having the rods a within said sleeves, substantially as and for the purpose described.

MARIA L. MOREY, EDMUND N oYEs. 

